“Rebecca, I made an offhand comment about being unable to visit a secluded property I owned,” he told us, still playing lawyer word games. “What they chose to do with that information was up to them. When I got back to Random, naturally I made a stop at my trailer to make sure everything was secure. That’s when I found the bodies and called Darrell. However, to be clear, that’s all I know about the crimes. I have no idea who killed Kip and Racer.”

*

Outside, Ajax and I lit up cigarettes next to his cruiser.

We both leaned against the hood. He stood close enough to me that his thigh brushed against mine. I was thinking about Norm and what he’d done, so I didn’t bother to move away. Believe me, Ajax noticed. He was smooth, taking his time, not spooking the bronco. After we’d smoked for a while, he slid his arm behind me like a teenager at a movie theater, and soon after that, his fingers began to stroke my hair. Just a casual thing. Harmless. Yes, I should have stopped him, but I didn’t. At that particular moment in my life, I liked being wanted. I couldn’t remember the last time Ricky had touched me with anything resembling affection.

And I know, I know, sweetheart, that’s how it starts. One time you get tired of resisting. One time you let it go, and the next thing you know, your whole life is in ruins. That’s how it happened for me.

Finally, I threw my cigarette into the snow and pushed Ajax away. That was only because I heard the whine of a power saw and spotted Will Foltz inside one of the open doors of Norm’s workshop. I felt a little embarrassed at the idea that Will might have spotted me standing so close to Ajax. It didn’t take much to start rumors around Black Wolf County.

Ajax saw him, too. “We should talk to Will.”

I nodded. “Let me do it, okay?”

“Why?”

“I’ve known Will his whole life. He trusts me. Plus, if Norm sees you talking to his son, he won’t like it.”

I crossed the driveway and went inside the workshop. Will was in the middle of crafting a miniature gazebo, something you’d put in a flower garden. Like his father, Will loved building things. He’d been designing and crafting everything from rolltop desks to built-in bookshelves since he was about ten years old. Ricky and I had rocking chairs on our back porch that Will had made for us as a wedding present.